Can You Identify These Australian Reptiles?

By: Jacqueline Samaroo
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify These Australian Reptiles?
Image: Kristian Bell/Moment Open/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Don't be scared, these pictures won't bite!

The animals of Australia are primarily known for two things: being extremely weird (like the platypus and the echidna) or being extremely deadly (like the inland taipan and the saltwater crocodile). Seriously, the animals of Australia are no laughing matter! While Australia's spiders -- and their scary sizes -- seem to be what most foreigners focus on, true Australians know what the most fearsome selection of animals in the country are ... the reptiles!

In fact, Australia is home to more deadly snakes than any other country in the world. It is also home to the most venomous snake in the world, the inland taipan, and the most massive reptile alive today, the saltwater crocodile! We've collected a diverse selection of Australia's reptiles, from the smallest to the scariest, and put them together in this scaly quiz. So, are you ready to visit one of the places where nature is at its deadliest? Then be on your guard, and let's jump right in and get started!

Green tree python What is the name of this long, emerald Australian reptile?
Green tree python
The green tree python is a species of snake that can be found in the northeastern tip of Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. It is a relatively massive snake, able to reach up to 2 meters in length.
Northern death adder
Inland taipan
Common dwarf skink

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Saltwater Crocodile Do you know the name of this massive, record-holding reptile?
Dinner-plate turtle
Mulga dragon
Saltwater crocodile
This reptile is the saltwater crocodile, a species of crocodilian that is found primarily in the northern reaches of Australia, Oceania, India and Southeast Asia. It is notable for being the largest reptile in the world, with the largest recorded lengths reaching up to 23 feet (7 meters).
Western blue-tongued lizard

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Perentie Can you correctly identify this big but shy reptile?
Western netted dragon
Olive sea snake
Common death adder
Perentie
The perentie is a species of large monitor lizard that is endemic to Australia. It is the fourth largest lizard in the world and is notable for its shy disposition.

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Eastern bearded dragon Which fearsome Australian reptile is shown here?
Northern spiny-tailed gecko
Brown tree snake
Eastern bearded dragon
This reptile is the eastern bearded dragon, a species of agamid lizard that is native to Australia. It is notable for its shiny, dark scales, which it can raise to form a “beard” when it is threatened.
Freshwater crocodile

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Yellow Bellied Sea Snake This water-loving Australian reptile goes by which name?
Desert death adder
Yellow-bellied sea snake
The yellow-bellied sea snake is a species of sea snake that can be found in tropical waters around Australia and the rest of the world, except the Atlantic Ocean (meaning it can be found from the western coast of the Americas to the eastern coast of Africa). This makes it one of the most widely distributed snakes in the world.
Spotted mulga snake
Burton’s legless lizard

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Central Netted Dragon What is the name of the desert-dwelling reptile shown here?
Common dwarf skink
Dugite
Western swamp turtle
Central netted dragon
This reptile is the central netted dragon, a species of agamid lizard that is found primarily in arid regions of Australia. It is also known as the central netted ground dragon.

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Arafura file snake Do you know the name of this water-loving Australian reptile?
Western blue-tongued lizard
Arafura file snake
The Arafura file snake is a species of aquatic snake that can be found in northern Australia and parts of New Guinea. Its name comes from the Arafura Sea, which lies between Australia and Indonesian New Guinea.
Spotted python
Desert death adder

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Children's Python Can you correctly identify the "juvenile" nonvenomous reptile showcased here?
Children’s python
This reptile is the Children’s python, a species of nonvenomous snake that is endemic to the northern reaches of Australia. Its name is a reference to British zoologist and chemist John George Children.
Common death adder
Frill-necked lizard
Northern spiny-tailed gecko

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dubois sea snake What is the correct name of this strange aquatic Australian reptile?
Freshwater crocodile
Dubois’ sea snake
The Dubois’ sea snake is a species of venomous aquatic snake that can be found in Australia, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. They don’t lay eggs; instead, they give birth to live young.
Kings’ monitor
Western netted dragon

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Pygmy Python The relatively small reptile shown here goes by which name?
Western swamp turtle
Burton’s legless lizard
Dinner-plate turtle
Pygmy python
This reptile is the pygmy python, a species of snake that is found primarily in Western Australia. Its name is a reference to the fact that it is the smallest python in the world.

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Leatherback Sea Turtle What is the name of this large and peaceful aquatic Australian reptile?
Green tree python
Leatherback sea turtle
The leatherback sea turtle is a species of reptile that can be found in waters all around the world. It is the largest turtle in the world and one of the heaviest reptiles alive.
Common dwarf skink
Northern death adder

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Black-headed Monitor Do you know the name of this relatively small reptile?
Black-headed monitor
This reptile is the black-headed monitor, a species of monitor lizard that is endemic to Australia. Compared to other monitor lizards, it is relatively small. It feeds primarily on insects, rodents and smaller lizards.
Saltwater crocodile
Thick-tailed gecko
Kings’ monitor

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Spine-tailed Sea Snake Can you correctly identify this fangless aquatic reptile?
Eastern long-necked turtle
Clawless gecko
Spine-tailed sea snake
The spine-tailed sea snake is a species of aquatic reptile that can be found in Australia, Southern Asia and the South China Sea. It is fangless (having lost them over years of evolution) and feeds primarily on fish eggs.
Spotted python

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Blue-tonqued Lizard Which dog-fearing Australian reptile is shown here?
Eastern bearded dragon
Lace monitor
This reptile is the lace monitor, a species of monitor lizard that is native to Australia. Their most common predators are birds of prey and the iconic Australian dingo.
Clawless gecko
Frill-necked lizard

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File Snake This small aquatic Australian reptile goes by which name?
Dugite
Yellow-bellied sea snake
Little file snake
The little file snake is a species of aquatic snake that can be found in the waters of South Asia, Oceania and Australia. It is at home in the water and helpless on land. It is also sometimes referred to as the little wart snake or the marine file snake.
Olive sea snake

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Green Sea Turtle What is the name of the omnivorous aquatic reptile shown here?
Central netted dragon
Leatherback sea turtle
Eastern long-necked turtle
Green sea turtle
This is the green sea turtle, a species of reptile that is found primarily in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They are omnivores, with adults being primarily herbivorous and juveniles being primarily carnivorous.

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Clawless Gecko Do you know the name of this small nocturnal Australian reptile?
Arafura file snake
Lace monitor
Clawless gecko
The clawless gecko is a species of lizard that is native to Australia. It is notable for being the smallest species of nocturnal gecko that can be found in the country.
Brown tree snake

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Eastern Long Neck Turtle Can you correctly identify the amicable Aussie reptile showcased here?
Eastern long-necked turtle
This reptile is the eastern long-necked turtle, a species of snake-necked turtle that is native to Australia. It doesn’t pull its head directly back into its shell; instead, it bends its head sideways into its shell.
Children’s python
Spine-tailed sea snake
Green sea turtle

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Thick-tailed Gecko What is the name of this barking Australian reptile?
Perentie
Black-headed monitor
Mulga dragon
Thick-tailed gecko
The thick-tailed gecko is a species of lizard that is endemic to Australia. It is also known as the barking gecko because of the sound it makes when threatened.

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pig nosed turtle The "livestock-themed" Aussie reptile shown here goes by which name?
Pig-nosed turtle
This is the pig-nosed turtle, a species of reptile that is found primarily in southern New Guinea and northern Australia. It is also known as the Fly River turtle and the pitted-shelled turtle.
Pygmy python
Little file snake
Inland taipan

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Inland Taipan What is the name of this extremely venomous Australian reptile?
Pig-nosed turtle
Central netted dragon
Common dwarf skink
Inland taipan
The inland taipan is a species of elapid snake that is native to Australia. It holds the distinction of being the most venomous snake in the world, with one bite being deadly enough to kill approximately 100 fully grown men.

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Mulga Dragon Can you identify the aptly named Aussie reptile shown here?
Arafura file snake
Mulga dragon
This reptile is the mulga dragon, a species of lizard that is endemic to Western Australia. Its name come from its most common habitat in its home region – mulga trees.
Western blue-tongued lizard
Thick-tailed gecko

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Olive Sea Snake Can you correctly identify this venomous aquatic Aussie reptile?
Children’s python
Dubois’ sea snake
Common death adder
Olive sea snake
The olive sea snake is a species of venomous aquatic snake that is native to the Indo-Pacific region. It has a paddle-shaped tail that it uses to swim. It is sometimes referred to as the olive-brown sea snake or the golden sea snake.

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Brown tree snake Which serpentine Australian reptile is shown here?
Spine-tailed sea snake
Brown tree snake
This reptile is the brown tree snake, a species of rear-fanged colubrid snake that is found primarily in Oceania and Southeast Asia. It is distinct for being one of the few colubrid snakes that can be found in Australia.
Freshwater crocodile
Clawless gecko

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Spotted Mulga Snake This threatening and venomous Australian reptile goes by which name?
Spotted mulga snake
The spotted mulga snake is a species of reptile that is native to Western Australia. It is also known as the Butler's snake and the Butler's black snake.
Pygmy python
Burton’s legless lizard
Green sea turtle

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Dugite What is the name of the protected Aussie reptile shown here?
Green tree python
Western swamp turtle
Dugite
This reptile is the dugite, a species of venomous snake that is found primarily in Western Australia. They are a protected animal, and hurting one can lead to a fine of up to 4,000 Australian dollars.
Little file snake

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Frilled Lizard Do you know the name of this exotic Australian reptile and pet?
Saltwater crocodile
Lace monitor
Frill-necked lizard
The frill-necked lizard is a species of small reptile that can be found in Australia and the southern reaches of New Guinea. They are a popular exotic pet and feed primarily on small vertebrates and insects.
Dinner-plate turtle

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Spotted Python Can you correctly identify the relatively small reptile showcased here?
Spotted mulga snake
Spotted python
This reptile is the spotted python, a species of snake that is found primarily in New Guinea and northern Australia. It is also known as the eastern Children’s python or the eastern small-blotched python.
Western netted dragon
Spine-tailed sea snake

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Kings' Monitor Which of these is the correct name for this regal Australian reptile?
Kings’ monitor
The Kings’ monitor is a species of monitor lizard that is endemic to Australia. Despite its name, it is actually one of the smallest species of monitor lizards.
Eastern bearded dragon
Desert death adder
Black-headed monitor

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Northern Death Adder The morbidly titled reptile shown here goes by which name?
Yellow-bellied sea snake
Frill-necked lizard
Northern death adder
This reptile is the northern death adder, a species of snake that is found primarily in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Its venom can lead to flaccid paralysis and even death in humans by causing respiratory failure.
Leatherback sea turtle

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Dinner-plate Turtle What is the name of this secretive Australian reptile?
Pig-nosed turtle
Dinner-plate turtle
The dinner-plate turtle is a species of reptile that can be found in Australia. Compared with other turtles that can be found in Australian waters, very little is known about the dinner-plate turtle and its behaviors.
Frill-necked lizard
Pygmy python

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Western Netted Dragon Do you know the name of the tiny Aussie reptile shown here?
Perentie
Kings’ monitor
Thick-tailed gecko
Western netted dragon
This reptile is the western netted dragon, a species of lizard that is found primarily in Australia. It is also known as the western netted ground-dragon and can reach average lengths of 4.2 inches (10.8 centimeters).

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Northern Spiny-tailed Gecko Can you correctly identify this eclectically colored reptile?
Dubois’ sea snake
Northern death adder
Northern spiny-tailed gecko
The northern spiny-tailed gecko is a species of lizard that is native to Australia. It has been observed in a wide range of colors, from black, grey and white to more vibrant oranges and browns.
Children’s python

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Desert Death Adder Which arid-dwelling Australian reptile is shown here?
Spotted python
Clawless gecko
Arafura file snake
Desert death adder
This reptile is the desert death adder, a species of snake that is endemic to Australia. True to its name, it is notable for being one of the most dangerous snakes in Australia as well as one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

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Western Swamp Tortoise This Australian freshwater reptile goes by which name?
Dugite
Western swamp turtle
The western swamp turtle is a species of short-necked freshwater tortoise that can be found in Australia. It is also known as the western swamp tortoise and is classified as being critically endangered.
Green sea turtle
Central netted dragon

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Burton’s Legless Lizard What is the name of the incredibly strange Aussie reptile shown here?
Little file snake
Eastern long-necked turtle
Yellow-bellied sea snake
Burton’s legless lizard
This reptile is the Burton’s legless lizard, a species of reptile that is found only in Australia and Papua New Guinea. While they may look like snakes and their name might suggest a complete absence of legs, they actually have relatively small (and fairly useless) hind legs.

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Freshwater crocodile Do you know the name of this fearsome Australian reptile?
Freshwater crocodile
The freshwater crocodile is a species of large reptile that is native to northern areas of Australia. It is also known as the Australian freshwater crocodile or the Johnstone's crocodile.
Brown tree snake
Lace monitor
Eastern bearded dragon

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common death adder Can you correctly identify the incredibly venomous reptile showcased here?
Spine-tailed sea snake
Olive sea snake
Common death adder
This reptile is the common death adder, a species of snake that is endemic to Australia. It is notable for being one of the most venomous snakes in the world and feeds on a diet of primarily small mammals and birds.
Spotted mulga snake

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Blue-Tongued Lizard Which of these is the correct name for this slow-footed Australian reptile?
Western blue-tongued lizard
The western blue-tongued lizard is a species of skink that is endemic to Australia. The western blue-tongued lizard is not as agile as many other Australian lizards and primarily hunts slow-moving prey.
Black-headed monitor
Mulga dragon
Saltwater crocodile

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